Discussion Terrestrial. Only "land" turtle in North Carolina. In summer reside in swamps and marshes. Slugs, worms, strawberries and poisonous mushrooms comprise main diet. Men who have eaten their flesh have died due to the mushrooms being poisonous to humans. Shells formerly used for ceremonial rattles by New York Indians, where their populations were almost wiped out. Some documented to have lived over 100 years. Fathers & sons would carve their names into the shells creating a 'living record'. Will often spends its life in one area, normally no bigger than a football field.